SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Veteran journalist and chief editorial consultant of Kashmir Times, Mohammad Sayeed Malik, today clarified that he has no intention to serve the media advisory committee, announced by the state government yesterday.

“I, honestly, do not know how to react to a brazen sarkari atrocity, concerning me personally, that smacks of arrogance as well as incompetence. I am supposed to be one of the three nominated members of an 'Advisory Committee' whose task is to advise the government on how to 'better manage the local media,” Malik said.

He added that firstly, no one from the government approached him, therefore, the question “of my prior consent just does not arise.” “A basic courtesy was short circuited, by whom, I still do not know. For better or worse, I am disinclined to serve on any sarkari panel though I am always willing to share my experience and opinion in any matter relating to working of government-media relationship. Secondly, being a professional journalist, I ought to have been spared this unearned ignominy of being thought of as a party in government’s management of the local media,” the veteran journalist said.

If anything, “I am always available to fight against any such 'management' tactics”, he added.

“Media is not supposed to be managed, internally or externally. This type of manipulation is an insult to the profession and its independence wish to make it clear that I have no intention to serve on the said committee. Let me also clarify that I mean no disrespect to two other nominees of the Advisory Committee. I not only regard them highly but also have pleasant personal relationship with both,” Malik said.

SRINAGAR, Oct 12: Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today said the braid-chopping incidents are an attempt to undermine the dignity of women in the state.
“Braid chopping incidents are attempts to create mass hysteria and undermine the dignity of the women in the state,”she wrote on Twitter.
Mehbooba added that the government will ensure that motives behind these attacks are found.
“Government will ensure steps are taken to find the motives behind these attacks,” she said, in another tweet.